Meal plan (6/21-6/27), a recipe, and other stuff...

"He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe." Prov.28:26

I had some really hard days this week.  I mean, really hard.  The kind where you are at the end of yourself, and out of answers.  Where you question everything you are doing, and wonder if you are getting anywhere. Now, I can do one of two things.  I can feel sorry for myself, because "everyone and everything is against me and I want to do things my way".  My other option is much better though.  I can admit that I cannot do this on my own, call on the Lord for help, and be thankful for my blessings.  I've experienced this enough lately to be very confident in the fact that God will give me more strength, increase blessings, and teach me to do things His way.

Now for a meal plan, and a yummy recipe for Easy Healthy Vegetable Linguine!! As always, I include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, and go Saturday through Friday.  This menu does contain dairy, and I will make substitutions for Miriam and myself where necessary.

Saturday:
B- Pancakes with blackberries, milk

L- Chilidogs (had much chili leftover from last week!!), green beans

(Giving a baby shower where I'm making peanut butter cookies, energy balls, and peanut butter &honey sandwiches---its a peanut themed shower.  My mom is bringing Lime Punch. Yum!)

D- Chicken fajitas (chicken, onions, bell peppers, seasoning in crockpot)

Sunday:
B- Cereal in milk, banana

L- Easy, Healthy Vegetable Linguine (recipe below), salad

D- Baked potatoes with chili ( again with the chili! haha)

Monday:
B- Oatmeal (oats, vanilla almond milk, pure maple syrup, applesauce, cinnamon), orange juice

L- Burritos (refried beans in a tortilla, easy peasy), soft cooked carrots

D- Chicken, Green Bean, Potato Bake (Recipe on my Pinterest board)

Tuesday:
B- Cinnamon toast, eggs, juice

L- Chicken salad on bread or lettuce, fresh pineapple chunks, pretzels

D- with our Life Group (I'm taking baked beans)

Wednesday:
B- Cinnamon rolls, strawberries, juice


L- Spaghetti (just noodles and sauce, the way my children like it)

D- Taco salad or Soft tacos

Thursday:
B-Oatmeal, orange juice

L- Build-Your-Own-Salad (our rule is choose at least 2 vegetables besides lettuce), grapes or apples

D- Family Dinner Night- Grammy is making BBQ chicken and German potato salad, I'm providing steamed broccoli and buns, Mom & Dad are bringing beans, and Grammy Sharon is bringing dessert.  Our cousin Annie from New York will be an honored guest!!  Family dinner nights are the best!!!

Friday:
B- Cereal with milk, bananas

L- out (grocery day)

D- Rachel's sleepover night, so lots of great sleepover foods!!!

Snacks: pretzels with peanut butter or hummus, veggies, energy balls, tortilla chips & salsa, fruit, frozen grapes, popcicles

Miriam is determined to bake a cake or cupcakes this week, so that's on the menu too, just not sure where it will fit in.  Probably for Life Group on Tuesday night.

Now, here is the recipe:

Easy, Healthy Vegetable Linguine

12oz  linguine noodles
1 can diced tomatoes with liquid
1 large sweet onion, juliennne
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)
2 tsp. dried oregano
2 sprigs basil
4 1/2 c. vegetable broth (do NOT get the low sodium kind)
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
Grated parmesan (to garnish)

1. Place pasta, tomatoes, onion, garlic, and basil in large stock pot.  Pour in vegetable broth.  Sprinkle with red pepper flakes (if desired) and oregano.  Drizzle top with oil.

2. Cover pot and bring to a boil.  Reduce to a low simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Cook until almost all the liquid is evaporated.  I like to leave about 1/2 inch liquid in the bottom to stir back into the pasta.

3.  Season to taste with sea salt and pepper.  Stir well.  Garnish with parmesan cheese.

And just for fun, 3 months pictures of all of our children:

Rachel

Miriam

Hannah

Joel

Leah and Levi